2020 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Chronic impact of malaria on bone marrow niches and immune regulation after recovery from infection
| Project/Area Number |
20K16234
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| Research Institution | The University of Tokyo |
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Principal Investigator |
LEE MICHELLE 東京大学, 医科学研究所, 特任助教 (10821423)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
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| Keywords | Bone marrow / malaria |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
We previously reported that malaria infection causes chronic bone loss. We hypothesize that the impact of malaria infection on bone may also affect bone marrow cell development and immune responses. In order to investigate the impact of malaria on bone marrow cells, we have successfully isolated and performed comprehensive phenotypic analysis on mesenchymal stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells, multi-lineage progenitor cells and lineage committed immune cells by flow cytometry. We identified significant alteration in the bone marrow cell populations caused by malaria infection in a time course manner.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
Due to emergency declaration of COVID-19 pandemic and delay in reagent order, experiments were slightly delay in the first half of last year. However, with proper experimental planning, we were able to conduct critical experiments and catch up our progress in the second half of last year. We have undergone training for imaging techniques and currently we are optimizing the imaging protocol to investigate the cellular interaction and distribution in the bone marrow.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
In this fiscal year, we will perform 3D imaging of whole bone to examine the spatial-temporal changes during acute and convalescent phase of malaria infection. We will also perform cellular and biochemical assays to examine the immune responses after recovery from malaria infection. We also aim to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of bone marrow cell population alteration caused by malaria infection.
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| Causes of Carryover |
Due to COVID pandemic, I was not able to receive training and to travel to use the light-sheet microscope for 3D imaging in the previous fiscal year. This fiscal year I will proceed the experiments as initially planned.
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